Thursday morning, Mack had just finished working out and cleaned up. He dried off and threw on a pair of sweats and a T-shirt, wondering if and when he’d talk to his family again.
He didn’t think they’d completely cut him off. But in his current mood, he didn’t care if he never spoke to them again. Well, maybe James because he’d apologized a little. And Alec, who’d called yesterday to say how proud of Mack he was.
“About time you stood up for yourself. Sorry, man, but that had to be your battle. Not mine.” He’d paused. “Dean agrees. He’s tired of all the cop talk. Totally boring.” Alec had laughed, and Mack had felt warm. Included. And loved.
But the others could take a short walk off an even shorter pier, and that hurt to even think. He loved his mom a ton, but he was tired of her just ignoring the family problems. And, yeah, maybe he was oversensitive about all of it. But, damn, he had been talked around and talked down to for years. James and Alec admitted it. Why the hell couldn’t she just apologize so they could move on?
He was done turning the other cheek all the time. And annoyed and still hurt because despite all the family crap, he missed Cass like crazy. Talking to Brad about the drama with his folks last night had helped a little. Brad, having dealt with even uglier family drama, had plenty to say about Mack’s folks not believing—or showing belief—in their son.
The texts from Tex and Reggie had made him feel even better. He might not have all the Reveres at his back, but he had his full crew on his side. Who didn’t feel at all bad about nagging him the past two days not to forget Sunday’s game day—with Cass and crew.
That’s if I can get her to talk to me again.He didn’t like her avoiding him. They had things they needed to talk about. Mack felt good about finally taking charge of the problems in his life. He was still the laid-back guy of C shift, the one who could get everyone laughing, the amiable one in the bunch.
But he had a backbone that until lately he’d ignored. Not anymore. Just because he was easygoing didn’t mean he had to be anyone’s doormat.
He grabbed the kittens and lay in his bed. “Okay, guys, the truth. Copo, Impala, I’m keeping you. You are now official firefighting kittens. We’re going to have to get Christmas photos taken. And yes, I’m lame and embarrassingly lonely because the woman I love can’t bother to pick up the fucking phone.”
Copo danced sideways, his tail puffed up, and batted Mack’s hand. Then Impala smacked him down, and the kittens raced around the bed, pretending Mack was a mountain. Occasionally they’d stop to sniff his face or utter a small trill or chirp.
He sighed.At least someone likes me.
He spent the day running errands. Later in the evening, he helped out at a Pets Fur Life adoption event at a pet shop on Queen Anne with Reggie. Maggie and Emily stopped by with Frank on his leash and bought some toys for the little guy.
They’d set up in the back, several pens and tables prepped to showcase the animals, with helpers like Mack, Reggie, and several other volunteers managing the pets.
While Maggie greeted Reggie with a kiss, her daughter and the dog crept closer to Mack and the dog he was holding, an adorable tan-and-white two-year-old Chihuahua named Noodle.
“No,” Reggie said before Emily could open her mouth. “Noodle already has someone interested in him, and Frank already has a brother.”
“He does?” Mack asked, aware Reggie had been speaking the truth about Noodle, who already had several people signed up to possibly adopt him. The dog licked his hand, and he smiled down at him. “You’re such a cutie.”
“Yeah, who, Reggie?” Emily planted her hands on her hips. She looked just like Maggie, he thought, and wondered what it must feel like to look at a small person with your DNA and see yourself in them. Or to see your wife in them. Like, say, Cass.
Gah. Stop thinking about her.
Reggie planted his hands on his hips and stared down at the little girl. They looked cute together, the burly firefighter and the scrappy kid with her puppy on a pink leash. “Ahem,” Reggie said. “Vader?”
Maggie snapped a quick picture.
“Frame that one,” Mack said to her.
She nodded, smiling.
“Who’s Vader?” The name sounded familiar.
“My cat,” Emily said at the same time Reggie said, “Her cat.”
“Jinx! Buy me a Coke.” Emily smirked at Reggie.
Mack had to laugh because the kid clearly had Reggie wrapped around her little finger.
Emily turned to Mack. “Can I just hold him? For a second?Pleassse?” She blinked at him, her lashes so long, her eyes so dark in that cute face.
“Okay, but just for a second or two.”
“Sucker,” Reggie muttered.
Around them, people streamed, looking over the many cats and dogs available for adoption. A terrific turnout for a Thursday evening.
